Distribution of Cd and Zn Levels in Soils and Acacia xanthophloea Benth. from Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya

Abstract

Cadmium and zinc from anthropogenic sources in Lake Nakuru were investigated. High metal levels (mg/kg) in soils (Cd < or = 16.3 and Zn < or = 280) and Acacia xanthophloea (Cd < or = 32 and Zn < or = 310) were observed at polluted sites. Significant variations in metal values were evaluated using ANOVA (F test) and student's t test at p < 0.05 and metal correlations studied. High levels of metals in soils and unhealthy/dying Acacia were obtained at polluted sites. Significant positive correlation was obtained between Cd and Zn in soils and plants. Acacia sp are effective biomonitor of environmental quality in areas subjected to pollution.

Comparative evaluation of the concentrations of lead, cadmium and zinc in surficial sediments from two shallow tectonic freshwater lake basins, kenya

“…Increased cobalt, nickel and copper concentrations in sediments of the remote Lake Baringo were among the first few documented results on heavy metals in the rift valley lake sediments (Ochieng et al, 2007). High levels of Cd and Zn in soils and Acacia xanthophloea Berth., were also reported in polluted sites around L. Nakuru, another closed basin saline rift valley lake (Dharani et al, 2010(Dharani et al, , 2007. Therefore, both surficial and core sediments provide better understanding of water related risks of accumulated potential toxicants among water users and managers, also will encourage a better sustainable management of water resources and maintenance of ecosystem integrity.…”

“…Hazardous waste disposal sites are a large source of Cd concentrations found in soil (about 4 ngg -1 ) and in water (about 5 ngg -1 ) (ATSDR, 1993). Soil formation around another saline Kenyan rift lake were found to contain significant amounts of Cd, Pb and Zn (Dharani et al, 2007(Dharani et al, , 2010, with significant correlations between soil Cd and Zn with terrestrial plant. Soil Zn, Pb and Cd concentrations in µgg -1 ranged from 157±5.0 to 178±11.4 (Zn), 16.0±1.3 to 43.4±4.2 (Pb) and 9.6±1.0 to 12.2±2.2 (Cd) (Dharani et al, 2007(Dharani et al, , 2010.…”

“…Soil formation around another saline Kenyan rift lake were found to contain significant amounts of Cd, Pb and Zn (Dharani et al, 2007(Dharani et al, , 2010, with significant correlations between soil Cd and Zn with terrestrial plant. Soil Zn, Pb and Cd concentrations in µgg -1 ranged from 157±5.0 to 178±11.4 (Zn), 16.0±1.3 to 43.4±4.2 (Pb) and 9.6±1.0 to 12.2±2.2 (Cd) (Dharani et al, 2007(Dharani et al, , 2010. Similarly, soils outside the rift show relatively high levels of Cd, Pb and Zn of 14.0±1.1 to 14.8 ±0.1 1 , 7.4±2.1 to 38.5±3.4 and 42.7±4.1 to 78.9±16.6 µgg -1 (Florence et al, 2011), respectively.…”

“…The ability to distinguish background and anthropogenic influences on metal concentrations can also be attained through use of selective extractants for the various geochemically defined phases or fractions, with the aim of simulating various environmental conditions to which the sediments can be subjected to. Kamau et al (2008Kamau et al ( , 2007, Mutia et al (2012), Ochieng et al (2007), Dharani et al (2010Dharani et al ( , 2007, Tarits et al (2006), Campbell et al (2003), Hakan Tarras-Wahlberg et al (2002), Bonzongo et al (1996) and Njenga et al (2009), provided very useful information on detectable levels of several metals in the rift valley lakes water, sediment and aquatic organisms, and soils of surrounding areas. Increased cobalt, nickel and copper concentrations in sediments of the remote Lake Baringo were among the first few documented results on heavy metals in the rift valley lake sediments (Ochieng et al, 2007).…”

Critical Review of the Current Status of Soil Contamination in Kenya

“…Again Lake Nakuru National Park recorded the Zn being concentrated in the area is mainly because of industrial wastes from battery industry [22].…”